VERY sad news. Smash Mouth lead singer Steve Harwell is in hospice care with only days to live, according to a rep for the band. The 56-year-old rocker is in the final stages of liver failure after receiving treatment at a hospital, the rep told Entertainment Weekly Sunday.
Family and friends have been visiting Harwell for the past three days since he’s been given “only a week or so to live,” per the outlet.
“We hope that people respect Steve and his family’s privacy during this difficult time,” the rep added.
The tragic news follows years of serious health complications for the musician. The Smash Mouth frontman was previously hospitalized in August 2016 after collapsing onstage during a concert in Urbana, Ill.
The band postponed several shows the following year when he was hospitalized again after experiencing difficulty breathing at a sound check before a performance in Memphis, Tenn.
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Harwell — a founding member of the group known for hits such as “I’m a Believer” and “All Star” — initially announced his hiatus from Smash Mouth in October 2021.
At the time, the singer’s rep told TMZ that he was suffering from heart failure and cardiomyopathy, which has was diagnosed with in 2015.
Not long after, Harwell officially confirmed his retirement from the band due to his ongoing medical issues, which also included acute Wernicke’s encephalopathy — a disorder that affects motor functions. He has also struggled with addiction in the past.
The retirement announcement came days after he raised concerns with his behavior during a performing at New York’s Big Sip Festival in 2021.
A video posted on TikTok at the time showed the musician slurring his words onstage and giving the middle finger to a crowd.
@doesthisfeelgood the most chaotic show I’ve ever been to #smashmouth #heynow #allstar #shrekisloveshrekislife ♬ original sound - haley in france
